Page 76 of The Dating Contract

Five years ago, this decision would be easy. Five years ago, she’d leave without a second thought.

Now, she was leaving, and she knew why she was leaving. But now? Now she also knew what she was leaving behind.

More specifically, not just what, but who.

“Send a car,” she finally said. “Send a car to my location.”

“Will do,” the gentleman replied.

And as he ended the call, Leah headed out of the room and toward her fate.

With every step she took, Leah began the process of locking her emotions away; the very last thing she wanted was to let Samuel see how badly leaving was shaking her. She didn’t want him to offer to come with her or something ridiculous like that.

This was work, not the occasion for a romantic rendezvous.

Leah didn’t have the space in her life to devote to a real romantic relationship of any sort as it was. She’d finish Carly’s contract and then end the relationship and the contract.

“What’s up?” he said as she walked toward the group.

“I have to go,” she said, doing her best to convey how sorry she was. “I’m so sorry. It’s an emergency.”

She was prepared for the sad expressions, but she wasn’t prepared for the support she saw in Samuel’s eyes. “It’s okay,” he said. “Is there anything I can do?”

Leah shook her head. “It’s…I have to go,” she managed, trying her best to hold back the emotions she thought she’d zipped up before she came into the room. She didn’t fight him as he put his arms around her. Just put her head on his shoulder, let him comfort her, let herself be comforted for the last time.

And when she lifted her head as the phone buzzed in her pocket, she met the warmth in his eyes.

“Gotta go,” she said. “I’ll call you when this gets settled.”

He didn’t say anything, just squeezed her hand before letting it drop.

But two steps to the door, she stopped, turned around, and followed the path of his cheekbones with her fingers, and kissed him.

This time, when she left, she closed the door behind herself, got into the car and drove away.

Chapter Twenty-Two

It was rainingwhen Samuel got the call from Leah to meet him at the MMJH. But he walked to the subway station and rode into Manhattan. It was still raining when he got off the subway, raining on 16th street as he walked in.

Same exhibit profiling Abraham Kaplan of Abe’s Kitchen greeted him just off the side of the entrance, a video tape playing on a loop.

But all that mattered was Leah.

She stood just in front of the entrance to the Abe Kaplan exhibit, her hair long, her rain boots peeking out from under her jeans, a cardigan sweater hugging her curves.

She was spectacular and yet it was as if she sucked all the light inside, locking it away.

All he wanted to do was hold her.

But she’d never let him. Not like this.

Instead, he smiled. “So we’re getting our museum day?” he asked.

Her smile was sad, and all it made him want to do was put his arms around her. To comfort her in ways that she rarely let anybody. “Yeah.”

It was an exhibit of art created by Jewish athletes, and he’d thought of her when he saw it. Immediately.

His brother had wondered why he’d been so interested in a random art exhibit like it, but to him this wasn’t random. This was Leah.

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